I-20/DS-2019 Request Process

After formally accepting an offer of admission (through paying a deposit or other formal means) and the university information system (OPUS) has been updated to indicate the student's intent to enroll, the student will receive an email with instructions on how to log in to ISSS Link, Emory’s international student and scholar web-based portal, and submit the "New Student I-20 Request" e-form. After the I-20 is ready, the student will receive an electronic copy of their I-20 along with instructions for paying the SEVIS fee and applying for a US visa. 

Submitting Financial Documentation: As part of the "New Student I-20 Request" e-from, students will be asked to show proof of funding. For more information, visit the following pages: 

• Initial I-20/DS-2019 Estimated Expenses
• Financial Requirements and Sponsor Form

F-1 Transfer Students: Students who are currently attending another US institution in F-1 status will need to request a SEVIS transfer from their current institution. The current institution can transfer the SEVIS immigration record to Emory after determining whether the student is eligible for a SEVIS transfer. For SEVIS transfer procedures (including Emory's SEVIS school codes) and help selecting a SEVIS release date, visit ISSS' Transfer a SEVIS Record to Emory page.

Students Changing Immigration Status to F-1: If a student is already in the US in an immigration status other than F-1, and they want to change their immigration status to F-1, they can either:

• Travel outside the US, apply for an F-1 visa and re-enter the US using the F-1 visa and Emory I-20.
• File a government application from within the US to change status, if eligible.
  • This process usually takes longer.
  • For more information about changing status in the US, please visit ISSS' Change of Status page.
     

J-1 Exchange Students: After formally accepting an offer of admission (through paying a deposit or another method indicated by the program), the student will be emailed instructions for submitting the "J-1 Student Request" e-form through ISSS Link, our international student and scholar portal. In ISSS Link, students will provide information and documents needed for ISSS to issue the DS-2019. Then, the exchange program administrator will receive an email asking them to provide supplemental information. After the DS-2019 is ready, the student will receive an electronic copy of their DS-2019 along with instructions for paying the SEVIS fee and applying for a US visa. 

J-1 Degree-Seeking Students (including Fulbright Transfers):

Degree-seeking students that are not already studying at Emory will receive an email from ISSS with instructions for submitting the "J-1 Student Request" e-form through ISSS Link. Current Emory students that are transferring their sponsorship from another organization, such as Fulbright, to Emory will need to contact our office directly at newfjstudent@emory.edu.

Submitting Financial Documentation: As part of the "J-1 Student Request" e-form, students will be asked to show proof of funding. For more information, visit the following pages:

• Initial I-20/DS-2019 Estimated Expenses
• Financial Requirements and Sponsor Form

J-1 Transfer Students: Students who are currently attending another US institution in J-1 status will need to request a SEVIS transfer from their current J-1 sponsor. The current sponsor can transfer the SEVIS record to Emory after determining if the student is eligible for a SEVIS transfer. These procedures are the same for students who are currently studying at Emory but whose J-1 is sponsored by another organization (i.e. Fulbright). For SEVIS transfer procedures (including Emory's SEVIS program code) and help selecting a SEVIS release date, visit ISSS' Transfer a SEVIS record to Emory page.

Students Changing Immigration Status to J-1: If a student is already in the US in an immigration status other than J-1, and they want to change their immigration status to J-1, they can either:

• Travel outside the US, apply for an J-1 visa and re-enter the US using the J-1 visa and Emory DS-2019.
• File a government application from within the US to change status, if eligible.
  • This process usually takes longer.
  • For more information about changing status from within the US, please visit ISSS' Change of Status page.